Margaret August is a Two-Spirit, Coast Salish artist from Shíshálh Nation, born in 1983 in traditional unceded Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories (Victoria, BC). Their work, often featuring beautiful, flowing forms, pastel colours, and symmetrical designs, furthers the concepts explored by renowned Coast Salish artists such as Susan Point and LessLIE.
"Divine Momentum is inspired by a stone spindle whorl artifact. Spindle whorls were traditionally used for spinning fibres for the sole purpose of making textiles. This contemporary design symbolizes the revival of ancient Coast Salish practices and the continuation of our cultures."
-Margaret August
The spindle whorl is one of the most frequent motifs in Coast Salish art. It was also a tool of high cultural importance which allowed Salish women to weave beautiful textiles of spiritual and social significance by spinning fleece into a thick yarn. It consisted of a small disk (whorl) with a shaft, inserted through a hole in its center (oft-depicted as a small central circle in spindle whorl designs). The shaft could measure up to four feet long, or 120 cm, while the whorl was up to eight inches across or 20 cm. Whorls were intricately carved from wood or stone with geometric, animal, or human designs. As the disk spun, the design would mesmerize the spinner, thereby bestowing special powers on the woven material.
Divine Momentum measures 18" x 18", and is from a limited run of 130 produced in 2021.